Ashes to Ashes

Today, Ash Wednesday, used to be such a hoot for Catholics back in the day. If you went to mass early enough to get ashes before work, you could spend the entire day having people tell you your forehead was dirty. That was when Catholics were a tiny minority here in NC. Nowadays, with the combined invasions from Yankeeland and Yankeeland South (Florida) Catholics are as common as dandelions and nearly as welcomed.

That's not to say that we're any better understood by our Protestant brethren today than we were 50 years ago. Curious Protestants are still asking us if we believe in Jesus--I guess somebody told them we don't. "Jesus?" I'd say "you mean that bearded guy who won't let you drink, dance or believe in evolution?" They'd get all huffy and stalk away while I'd make a sign of the cross and invoke Mary (they really hate that.)

I understand that today some of the Protestant churches hold Ash Wednesday services. Who knows, this tradition might catch on and even Baptists will be going around with ashes on their foreheads and eating eating fish on Wednesdays and Fridays. They might even take up dancing.

Anyway, 6PM Ash Wednesday service tonight at OLG Church. The Choir will be singing, Yankees will be saying their prayers with thick Jersey accents and we'll all go home with dirty foreheads. See you there!